Spend Culture: Conversations on Spend Management, Procurement, and Finance Leadership

Spend Management in 2026: Choosing the Best AI-Powered Software

In this Digest edition of Spend Culture, we break down Procurify’s 2026 Buyer’s Guide to spend management software for mid-market finance, procurement, and AP teams.

We explore the four levels of procurement maturity, the six core capabilities every modern platform should support—from request to payment—and where ERPs, spreadsheets, and point solutions fall short. You’ll also learn how AI embedded across intake-to-pay is reshaping approvals, risk control, and spend visibility. 

Finally, we share a practical framework for comparing vendors and choosing a platform that can scale with your business in 2026 and beyond.

Explore the full Buyer’s Guide: https://www.procurify.com/resource/spend-management-software-buyers-guide/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2601_General_Spend_Management_Buyers_Guide_MKTG 

This episode was generated using AI narration to deliver insights quickly and efficiently.

AI Readiness in Finance: Hype, Hope, or Here?

AI is reshaping how finance teams work but readiness looks different for every organization. In this expert panel during Pulse 2025, Procurify’s event dedicated to getting the AI edge in procurement, finance and IT leaders share where AI is making a measurable impact, what’s still on the horizon, and how they’re balancing innovation with control.

🎙️ Hear from:

• Alex Costa, SVP & Security Officer, IT at PSC Group
• Elizabeth Parish, Director, Enterprise Vendor Management Office at Questrade
• Damon Norris, VP, Finance at Basis Ed

🔑 Key takeaways:

• Rollout playbook: how to assess readiness, pick first use cases, and land early wins
• Smart governance: keeping AI fast, safe, and compliant
• Control vs. automation: when to let AI run — and when to keep humans in the loop
• Avoidable pitfalls: common rollout mistakes (and how to sidestep them)

Tune in to hear how real finance leaders are moving from hype to hands-on adoption—and what they’ve learned along the way. 

For more resources, visit procurify.com

The New Procurement Playbook | Visibility, Speed & AI for Mid-Market Growth

How AI, Speed, and Visibility Are Transforming Mid-Market Procurement

In this episode, we’re joined by Xavier Olivera, Procure-Tech Lead Analyst at Spend Matters, and Jeffrey Hardy, Chief Revenue Officer at Procurify, to explore how mid-market finance and procurement teams are adapting to new challenges with the help of AI, automation, and better visibility.

You’ll learn:

• What’s changing in mid-market procurement—and why it matters

• The top priorities for finance and procurement leaders in 2025

• How scalable tools are closing workflow and visibility gaps

• Real-world stories of procurement transformation in action

Whether you're a CFO, procurement leader, or ops manager, this conversation will help you better understand how modern teams are boosting agility and control across spend processes.

Topics Include:

• AI in procurement

• Workflow automation and visibility

• Unified platforms for smarter decision-making

• Best practices for scaling mid-market procurement

For more resources, visit procurify.com

Spend Culture Conversations with Vikas Kante, Head of Finance at Mitra Chem

Candid conversations about what really happens behind the numbers.

 

In this episode, we sit down with Vikas Kante, Head of Finance at Mitra Chem, for an unfiltered look into the decision-making moments that shape high-growth companies. From navigating complex tradeoffs to aligning strategy across investors, boards, suppliers, and customers, Vikas shares how finance leaders can stay agile without losing control.

 

We unpack:

• The inflection points that actually moved the needle — from tech stack shifts to workflow redesigns
• How to scale finance operations without compromising strategic vision
• The role of AI and automation in shaping the next era of spend management

 

About Our Guest

Vikas Kante brings a rare blend of investor insight and operational rigor to his role at Mitra Chem, a pioneer in domestic cathode manufacturing. With over $200M raised in private and government capital and a career spanning private credit to startup leadership, he offers a front-row view into what it really takes to scale strategically in volatile markets.

 

About the Podcast

Spend Culture Conversations is where finance, procurement, and AP leaders get real. In each episode, we go beyond the buzzwords to talk about the real-world decisions that impact budgets, teams, and business outcomes.

Benchmarking Spend: Key Insights from Procurify’s 2025 Procurement Report

In this Digest edition of Spend Culture, we break down key insights from Procurify’s 2025 Procurement Benchmark Report. Built on $20B+ in real procurement data, this episode explores how organizations can use benchmarking across 11 key KPIs to spot inefficiencies and identify opportunities for optimization.

The KPIs are tied to major procurement objectives like maximizing supplier value, cutting costs, and tracking procurement’s impact on financial health. We walk through the report’s major objectives, highlight the critical metrics, and share how you can use these benchmarks to assess performance and guide future improvements.

https://www.procurify.com/resource/procurement-benchmark-report-2025/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2505_General_Benchmark_Report_Social_MKTG

This episode was generated using AI narration to deliver insights quickly and efficiently.

The Fiscal Responsibility Method: How to Navigate Charter School Finance Complexity

Can charter schools beat budget pressure? In this episode, from Procurement Week for Charter Schools, Raj Thakkar, Founder & CEO at CSBM, shares proven strategies from his Fiscal Responsibility Method to help charter schools tackle financial challenges, optimize spending, and ensure fiscal responsibility. Gain actionable insights from an award-winning financial leader with 20+ years of experience in charter school finance, and discover how to prepare your school for long-term stability and growth.

Navigating the New Normal in Charter School Budgeting

How are finance leaders preparing for 2025–2026 budgeting? In this episode, from Procurement Week for Charter Schools, school finance leaders share strategies for financial stability, transparency, streamlined operations, and compliance. Get ahead of the curve with insights from experienced leaders on adapting to funding shifts, rethinking staffing models, and navigating the complexities of modern charter school finance.

How Leading Charter Schools Are Transforming Procurement for Maximum Impact

Discover how real charter school leaders are enhancing their purchasing and accounts payable workflows in this episode from Procurement Week for Charter Schools. Featuring four innovative charter school leaders at the forefront of procurement transformation, you'll hear firsthand how they’ve optimized purchasing workflows, improved budget visibility, and leveraged technology to streamline operations. Learn how to tackle rogue spending, gain real-time spend visibility, and stay compliant as budgets tighten and regulations increase.

How Charter Schools Can Ace Their Purchasing Process with Procurify

What does smarter school spending look like in action? This episode, from Procurement Week for Charter Schools, explores how AI-powered procurement and AP tools are helping schools cut costs, reduce manual work, and gain control over every dollar—just in time for budgeting season. Listen to learn about Procurify’s latest features, including AI-powered contract management and AP automation, and learn how these tools can help your school save time, stretch your budget further, and eliminate procurement headaches during budgeting season.

Using Technology to Bridge the Gap Between Finance and Business With Darrell Cox

In this episode of Spend Culture Stories, Darrell Cox, CFO at Vena Solutions, explains how technology is bridging the gap between finance and everyone else, why self-created uncertainty can be a boost, and the importance of being a business partner as well as a numbers guy.